Six male University of Lynchburg students and a neighboring couple will redecorate a room in each others’ houses the weekend of Oct. 9-11 in the second annual Trading Places: LC Style.
This initiative is a joint effort between the Office of Residence Life and the Residential Student Organization (RSO) to help establish positive relationships between LC students and local residents in surrounding neighborhoods.
Juniors Brian Boenau, Stephen Armstrong, R.J. Burnette, Josh Shea, and J.J. Jordan, and senior Tim Jackson, who live at 312 Lakewood St., are teaming up to transform a room for Tracy and Darnell McCray, who live at 202 Bell St.
Tracy McCray, who is a cook in LC’s Westover Room, said she is thrilled at the opportunity. “I just count it as a blessing,” she said. McCray’s house is about 100 years old and she’s hoping to transform her kitchen, which she says is trapped in the 1960s.
The LC Trading Places concept is based on Trading Spaces (a popular TLC TV show). Two sets of homeowners trade houses for roughly 48 hours. During this period, each team completely redecorates (new paint, furniture, accessories, electronics, etc.) a room in their neighbor’s house.
For the LC version, each team of designers will be given a budget of approximately $1,000 and access to University of Lynchburg faculty and staff, and student volunteers. The teams will have 42 hours to complete their projects with the program starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, and finishing 12 noon Sunday, Oct. 11.
On Sunday, the College will host an open house for all neighbors and LC students to stop by and see the transformations. From 1 to 2 p.m., the McCray Family will be hosting an open house for those interested in seeing the transformations to their home. From 2 to 3 p.m., the LC students will be opening their house up as well for anyone who would like to see the changes that have been made.